Mobile satellite system
A mobile cellular system and method having an antenna to transfer information between the mobile cellular system and a plurality of mobile communication devices, an extendable mast on which the antenna is mounted, a plurality of base stations to manage the transfer of information between the mobile cellular system and the plurality of mobile communication devices, a generator to supply power to the mobile cellular system, a fuel storage tank to supply fuel to the mobile cellular system, a satellite communications device to transfer information between the mobile cellular system and a communications satellite, and an air-conditioning unit to maintain a temperature inside the mobile cellular system, wherein the antenna, the extendable mast, the plurality of base stations, the generator, the fuel storage tank, the satellite communications device, and the air-conditioning unit are mounted on a self propelled vehicle.
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This application claims the priority of previously filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/506,503 filed on Sep. 29, 2003, which is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a system for, and a method of, providing a mobile cell station for a cellular communication network wherein the mobile cell station is mounted on a vehicle that is capable of being transported on a C-130 cargo plane and is capable of being rapidly deployed by a single user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCellular phones have become a necessity of modern day life and are used by millions of people on a daily basis for routine communications such as phone calls, text messages, emails, and photographs. These communications may be of a personal nature, or as is becoming more frequent, they may be business related. Cellular phones are also used in emergencies to provide much needed communications with people in a position to provide help, and even between rescue workers as an aid to resolving crises situations.
One of the failings of cellular communications is that communications towers are needed to provide coverage to a cell area. When the towers go out of service, large areas can be without cellular service. While to some this may be a mere inconvenience, for those without access to land lines, the loss of communications may have dire ramifications. When a cellular tower becomes inoperative, it often takes several days to restore service. Such an extended period of time without cellular communications has become unacceptable. A cellular provider that could restore service quickly and seamlessly would have a substantial advantage over its competition.
Perhaps more important than the business concerns, when a loss of cellular service coincides with a natural disaster such as a hurricane, an ice storm, a wild fire, or an earthquake, the timely restoration of cellular service may save lives. When these disasters occur, it is vital to have communications restored as quickly as possible. Reliable portable communication networks have been shown to be a great asset in effectively managing disaster situations.
In more remote locations, where it is not be feasible to establish and maintain permanent communication bases, it would be extremely beneficial to be able to set up a temporary cell site for the duration of an emergency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn exemplary embodiment of the invention may be a mobile cellular system having an antenna to transfer information between the mobile cellular system and a plurality of mobile communication devices, an extendable mast on which the antenna is mounted, a plurality of base stations to manage the transfer of information between the mobile cellular system and the plurality of mobile communication devices, a generator to supply power to the mobile cellular system, a fuel storage tank to supply fuel to the mobile cellular system, a satellite communications device to transfer information between the mobile cellular system and a communications satellite, and an air-conditioning unit to maintain a temperature inside the mobile cellular system, wherein the antenna, the extendable mast, the plurality of base stations, the generator, the fuel storage tank, the satellite communications device, and the air-conditioning unit are mounted on a self propelled vehicle.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the mobile cellular system may be configured such that it meets the requirements to be loaded on a C-130 cargo plane.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the mobile cellular system may be configured such that it has a total weight of less than or equal to 26,000 pounds.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the mobile cellular system may be configured such that it has a weight per axel of less than or equal to 13,000 pounds.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the mobile cellular system v configured such that it has outside dimensions of 284.5 inches by 96 inches.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the antenna may be a microwave antenna.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the antenna may be omni-directional.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the antenna may be aimable.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the mast may be extendable to a height of 32 feet or greater.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the mast may be selectively tiltable.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the mast may be selectively rotateable.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the mobile cellular system may have a rack in which the base stations may be mounted such that the base stations may be inserted or removed from a front side of the rack.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the generator may be rated at 15 kilowatts.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the fuel tanks may be able to supply power to the mobile cellular system for at least four days of continuous operation.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the mobile cellular system may include a fuel selector to allow a user to selectively draw fuel from the fuel storage tank or a vehicle fuel tank.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the satellite communications device may be a satellite dish.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the satellite dish may be mounted on a side of the mobile cellular system.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the satellite dish may be connected to the mobile cellular system using a flexible waveguide.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the satellite dish may be manually positionable.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the satellite dish may be automatically positionable.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the mobile cellular system may include a control device to control extending the extendable mast, wherein the control device may be operational from a top of the mobile cellular system.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the control device may be effectively connected to the mobile cellular system by a cable.
In a further embodiment of the invention, cables connecting the mast to the mobile cellular system do not need to be disconnected during extension or retraction of the mast, or prior to operation following the extension or retraction of the mast.
In a further embodiment of the invention, a CDL may not be required to drive the mobile cellular system.
Another exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method for providing cellular communications. The method includes providing a self propelled mobile cellular system having a cellular antenna to transfer data to and from a plurality of mobile communications devices, and a satellite communications device to transfer data to and from a satellite, and transmitting information to the mobile cellular system using a microwave antenna.
A method according to a further embodiment of the invention may include transporting the mobile cellular system to an area where cellular communications are to be provided, using a C-130 cargo plane.
Another exemplary embodiment of the invention may include a cellular network having a plurality of mobile cellular systems to establish cellular coverage over a plurality of areas wherein the mobile cellular systems, transfer data with each other using microwave antennas, transfer caller data between the mobile cellular systems and a plurality of mobile communication devices using cellular antennas mounted on the mobile cellular systems, and transfer the caller data between the mobile cellular systems and at least one communication satellite using satellite dishes mounted on the mobile cellular systems.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
While several embodiments of the present invention are described below, the descriptions are exemplary, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the embodiments may be altered without changing the scope of the invention.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
By mounting a complete cellular system on a light truck such as shown in
To further improve response time and ease of deployment, the preferred embodiment may be under the gross weight limit for vehicles requiring a driver to have a Commercial Drivers License (CDL), usually about 26,000 pounds. The reason this is such a benefit is that when a CDL is required to drive a vehicle, the cost of rapidly deploying the vehicle becomes very expensive. Possible drivers must be trained and licensed, and then those licensed drivers must be kept available to drive with little notice. In embodiments where the mobile cellular system does not require an operator to have a CDL, a single operator may operate the cellular portion of the system and may also be the driver.
In the preferred embodiment shown in
In order to remain within the preferred dimensions as described above, the antenna 100 and the extendable mast 110 may pivot around a pivot 120 such that they may be stored in a horizontal position when not operational. As shown in
Also shown in
It is sometimes preferable to rotate the mast 110 about its axis to position the antenna for optimal coverage. To facilitate rotation of the mast 110, the mobile cellular system shown in the preferred embodiment may have the additional features shown in
In the preferred embodiment shown in
In the preferred embodiment, once the satellite dish 200 is deployed, it may then be aimed at one of a plurality of communications satellites before transferring data. According to the preferred embodiment, the satellite dish 200 may be automatically aimed based on the operator's selection of a desired communications satellite. According to an alternate embodiment, the satellite dish 200 may be manually aimed by the operator.
The preferred embodiment of the mobile cellular system shown in
Also shown in
The preferred embodiment shown in
Careful consideration is given to the location of the various components of the mobile cellular system shown in
In the preferred embodiment, the mobile cellular system may have a battery backup system 420 (shown in
An access hatch 910 is also shown in the preferred embodiment. The access hatch 910 may be used to access components internal to the mobile cellular system.
One of the features of the preferred embodiment is that it may be quickly and easily deployed by a single operator, and many facets of the design have been chosen with this in mind. Accordingly, the preferred embodiment may use a remote control device 270 as shown in
In the preferred embodiment, the mobile cellular system may have an air ride suspension to help minimize impact damage to the components contained therein. Air can be released or added to the suspension to change the effective height of the mobile cellular system. This may be helpful in balancing the mobile cellular system or in driving the mobile cellular system under structures having a low clearance.
Additional embodiments involve a method for providing cellular coverage that may use mobile cellular systems to provide cellular coverage to areas where cellular coverage does not exist. The cellular coverage may not exist due to a failure of existing cellular systems, or coverage may never have been present in the area.
Claims
1. A mobile cellular system comprising:
- an antenna to transfer information between the mobile cellular system and a plurality of mobile communication devices,
- an extendable mast on which the antenna is mounted,
- a plurality of base stations to manage the transfer of information between the mobile cellular system and the plurality of mobile communication devices,
- a generator to supply power to the mobile cellular system,
- a fuel storage tank to supply fuel to the mobile cellular system,
- a satellite communications device to transfer information between the mobile cellular system and a communications satellite, and
- an air-conditioning unit to maintain a temperature inside the mobile cellular system,
- wherein the antenna, the extendable mast, the plurality of base stations, the generator, the fuel storage tank, the satellite communications device, and the air-conditioning unit are mounted on a self propelled vehicle.
2. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the mobile cellular system is configured such that it meets the requirements to be loaded on a C-130 cargo plane.
3. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the mobile cellular system is configured such that it has a total weight of less than or equal to 26,000 pounds.
4. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the mobile cellular system is configured such that it has a weight per axel of less than or equal to 13,000 pounds.
5. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the mobile cellular system is configured such that it has outside dimensions less than or equal to 284.5 inches by 96 inches.
6. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a microwave antenna.
7. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is omni-directional.
8. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a aimable.
9. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the mast is extendable to a height of 32 feet or greater.
10. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the mast is selectively tiltable.
11. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the mast is selectively rotateable.
12. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, further comprising a rack in which the base stations are mounted such that the base stations may be inserted or removed from a front side of the rack.
13. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the generator is rated at 15 kilowatts.
14. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the fuel tanks can supply power to the mobile cellular system for at least four days of continuous operation.
15. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, further comprising a fuel selector to allow a user to selectively draw fuel from the fuel storage tank or a vehicle fuel tank.
16. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the satellite communications device is a satellite dish.
17. The mobile cellular system of claim 16, wherein the satellite dish is mounted on a side of the mobile cellular system.
18. The mobile cellular system of claim 16, wherein the satellite dish is connected to the mobile cellular system using a flexible waveguide.
19. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the satellite dish is manually positionable.
20. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the satellite dish is automatically positionable.
21. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, further comprising a control device to control extending the extendable mast, wherein the control device is operational from a top of the mobile cellular system.
22. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the control device is effectively connected to the mobile cellular system by a cable.
23. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein cables connecting the mast to the mobile cellular system are not disconnected during extension or retraction of the mast, or prior to operation following the extension or retraction of the mast.
24. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein a CDL is not required to drive the mobile cellular system.
25. A method for providing cellular communications, the method comprising: providing a self propelled mobile cellular system having a cellular antenna to transfer data to and from a plurality of mobile communications devices, and a satellite communications device to transfer data to and from a satellite, and transmitting information to the mobile cellular system using a microwave antenna.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising transporting the mobile cellular system to an area where cellular communications are to be provided, using a C-130 cargo plane.
27. A cellular network comprising:
- a plurality of mobile cellular systems to establish cellular coverage over a plurality of areas wherein the mobile cellular systems,
- transfer data with each other using microwave antennas,
- transfer caller data between the mobile cellular systems and a plurality of mobile communication devices using cellular antennas mounted on the mobile cellular systems, and
- transfer the caller data between the mobile cellular systems and at least one communication satellite using satellite dishes mounted on the mobile cellular systems.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 28, 2004
Publication Date: Aug 18, 2005
Applicant: NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (Reston, VA)
Inventors: Matthew Foosaner (Store Ridge, VA), Robert Kuhn (Fairfax, VA), Michael Murphy (Centernial, CO), Scott Jones (Reston, VA), David Tincher (Kearneysville, WV), Charlene Kutella (Leesburg, VA)
Application Number: 10/950,682